Summer Adjournment | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-20c.1041.0&p=24945#g1051.1
I thank my right hon. Friend&#8212;I will call him that here&#8212;for that intervention and I trust that he can persuade the members of his own party, not only in this House but in the other...I thank my right hon. Friend—I will call him that here—for that intervention and I trust that he can persuade the members of his own party, not only in this House but in the other place, to support the Government on doing what we want to see happening for British Hindus up and down the country.

The final area I will touch on is the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I have tabled an early-day motion, which I believe seven other hon. Members have signed, in relation to the attack on innocent Hindu pilgrims in Anantnag by Lashkar-e-Taiba, an internationally recognised terrorist group, led by Abu Ismail. The UK must stand with India to combat this international terrorism and to prevent the situation from escalating still further. There have been attempts in this country to celebrate Burhan Wani, who died last year. He was a murderous Islamic terrorist and the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. There was an attempt in Birmingham to hold a demonstration about his death, which would have been a direct challenge to the UK’s values of harmony and tolerance. I am delighted that that demonstration was shut down before it happened, but the Government must do more to target all those who celebrate terrorists.

Madam Deputy Speaker, may I wish you, your colleagues—the other Deputy Speakers and Mr Speaker—and all right hon. and hon. Members in the House a very happy recess? We will all be working in our constituencies, as has been mentioned, on behalf of our constituents, with—no doubt—a brief holiday in the next few weeks.

]]>2017-07-20T14:09:00+00:00Summer Adjournment | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-20c.1041.0&p=24945#g1049.0
It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick)&#8212;[Interruption.] Not right honourable? It is only a matter of time. He gave a typically robust...It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick)—[Interruption.] Not right honourable? It is only a matter of time. He gave a typically robust and informative speech, demonstrating the value of these types of debates at the end of a parliamentary term. I want to raise several issues relating to aspects of parliamentary work that I have been and will continue to be involved in.

At the end of the previous Parliament, just before the general election, almost the last Act passed was the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which I had the honour of piloting through this House; my hon. Friend Lord Best piloted it through the other place. There are many measures that still require secondary legislation before the Act comes fully into force, which of course will be a revolution in the way homeless people are treated in this country. There is still a lot of work to do, including on statutory instruments that must be put before the House, but I trust that, even with the great repeal Bill and the forthcoming SIs, we will find sufficient time to ensure that the Act is brought to fruition, because many thousands of people up and down this country are desperately awaiting help.

There has been a flurry of annual general meetings of all-party groups in the last few weeks. I will just run through a few of the groups that I am involved with. The right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) referred to one group of which I succeeded in becoming vice-chair, following a hard-fought election. On the other groups, I am delighted, on behalf of the Action on Smoking and Health group, that the Government have at last announced the tobacco control plan. I congratulate the new Minister for public health, my hon. Friend the Member for Winchester (Steve Brine), on doing something that his three predecessors could not do, namely publishing the plan so that we get control of the tobacco industry, with some very strong targets towards a smoke-free Britain, which will be warmly welcomed by all concerned.

However, there is a deep threat to smoking cessation services across local authorities. Therefore, we should reiterate our call that it is vital that those services continue, and continue to be funded by local authorities. In my own borough, there is a threat to remove funding from the smoking cessation service, despite the fact that in the last four years 1,751 local people have been able to give up smoking. Yet we still have a high prevalence of smoking in my borough and it would not be good enough if the service ceased.

Equally, the all-party group for justice for Equitable Life policyholders met recently. We have 185 members in this House. May I send a strong signal via my hon. Friend the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons that we will not cease in our work until justice has been done for every single one of those individuals who suffered from this scam? We are not going away, and we are not happy that there is still a huge sum of money—£2.7 billion—owed to the victims.

The all-party group on Azerbaijan heard of the dreadful attack that took place in the hotly disputed and illegally occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this month. A two-year-old girl and her grandmother were deliberately killed by Armenian forces. The reality is that that is a war crime, which needs to be thoroughly investigated by the authorities, and the perpetrators should be brought to justice in front of the International Criminal Court.

There are several other issues that the Government need to bear in mind. The UN’s Human Rights Council will meet from 11 to 29 September, shortly after we return to this House. There are a number of issues for it to consider. I have mentioned Azerbaijan, but there is also the issue of justice for Tamils in Sri Lanka, and the absolutely outrageous and disgraceful genocide of political prisoners in Iran in 1998, which needs a thorough international investigation. I hope that there will be a debate in Government time before the UN’s HRC meets on the UK’s priorities for that particular body and its work, because we need to spread our message that human rights are vital. Under the last Government, it took six months for the Joint Committee on Human Rights to be set up in this House. It is a Government-appointed Committee and it is vital that it starts its work very soon and very quickly on an all-party basis.

When we come back after the recess, there will be an ongoing consultation—the Government have wisely enabled it to be extended—on removing caste as a protected characteristic from our equality legislation. I believe that consultation will now conclude on 14 September, having originally been due to conclude by the end of July. It is vital that the message goes out from this House that British Hindus have an opportunity to input to the Government consultation, so that the Government have the evidence they require to ensure we remove this ill thought-out, divisive and unnecessary legislation.

]]>2017-07-20T14:09:00+00:00Grenfell Tower | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-20c.1020.4&p=24945#g1026.0
I welcome my right hon. Friend&#8217;s statement and congratulate him on keeping the House up to date with progress thus far. My right hon. Friend is right in saying that there is a lack of...I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and congratulate him on keeping the House up to date with progress thus far.

My right hon. Friend is right in saying that there is a lack of confidence in the local authority in Kensington and Chelsea. The taskforce that he is going to nominate, hopefully later today or tomorrow, is vital to restore confidence. Will he update the House on the exact powers that the taskforce has? Clearly, if control is passed back to Kensington and Chelsea Council, that raises the question of who can direct the council to do things, and what happens if there is a dispute over what is done. For example, the shadow Secretary of State mentioned individuals almost being blackmailed into accepting a property that they do not want. Does the taskforce have the power to direct the local authority to take certain actions, and will my right hon. Friend personally intervene if it needs extra help?

]]>2017-07-20T12:45:00+00:00Engagements | Oral Answers to Questions - Prime Minister | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-19b.828.7&p=24945#g834.2
In Harrow and up and down the country, young people will be eagerly anticipating their A-level results to see whether they qualify for a university education. Will my right hon. Friend confirm...In Harrow and up and down the country, young people will be eagerly anticipating their A-level results to see whether they qualify for a university education. Will my right hon. Friend confirm the dramatic increase in the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university, and can she think of anyone who should apologise for misleading the British public?]]>2017-07-19T00:00:00+00:00Railway Stations: Greater London | Department for Transport | Written Answershttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2017-07-11.4190.h&p=24945#g4190.q0
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of accessibility for disabled people on Transport for London stations; and if he will make a statement.To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of accessibility for disabled people on Transport for London stations; and if he will make a statement.]]>2017-07-18T00:00:00+00:00Counter-Daesh Update | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-13a.444.8&p=24945#g457.3
The progress militarily in Mosul is welcome, but the poisonous ideology that underpins ISIL continues. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the number of UK citizens fighting on...The progress militarily in Mosul is welcome, but the poisonous ideology that underpins ISIL continues. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the number of UK citizens fighting on behalf of ISIL/Daesh? What is happening on those who choose to return home, so that we can apprehend them and ensure that they are not a danger to UK citizens?]]>2017-07-13T11:41:00+00:00Taylor Review: Working Practices | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-11c.157.0&p=24945#g166.7
There is a marked difference between people who set up a business and take risks, including the risk of self-employment, and a few unscrupulous employers who force workers to go self-employed. In...There is a marked difference between people who set up a business and take risks, including the risk of self-employment, and a few unscrupulous employers who force workers to go self-employed. In response to this excellent report, what will my hon. Friend do to ensure that people who are genuinely self-employed continue to receive benefits, but the unscrupulous employers do not?]]>2017-07-11T12:42:00+00:00Topical Questions | The Secretary of State Was Asked | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-11c.151.7&p=24945#g152.0
In Jammu Kashmir yesterday terrorists brutally murdered seven Hindu pilgrims, including five women, as they undertook amaranth yatra. What action has my right hon. Friend taken to condemn that...In Jammu Kashmir yesterday terrorists brutally murdered seven Hindu pilgrims, including five women, as they undertook amaranth yatra. What action has my right hon. Friend taken to condemn that terrorist outrage, and what support will he give to recovering and bringing to justice the terrorists who, we believe, emanate from Pakistan?]]>2017-07-11T00:00:00+00:00Topical Questions | The Secretary of State Was Asked | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-11c.151.7&p=24945#g151.9
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.]]>2017-07-11T00:00:00+00:00Navy | Ministry of Defence | Written Answershttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2017-07-04.900312.h&p=24945#g900312.q0
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to expand the Royal Navy.To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to expand the Royal Navy.]]>2017-07-10T00:00:00+00:00Israel and Palestinian Talks | Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Bill | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-05a.1223.2&p=24945#g1254.0
rose&#8212;rose—]]>2017-07-05T17:48:00+00:00Israel and Palestinian Talks | Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Bill | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-05a.1223.2&p=24945#g1248.0
My hon. Friend is making a powerful case for peace in the middle east. In the light of Indian Prime Minister Modi&#8217;s visit to Israel and the fact that India has suffered terrorism as well,...My hon. Friend is making a powerful case for peace in the middle east. In the light of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Israel and the fact that India has suffered terrorism as well, does she agree that those two great countries can come together and form an excellent security relationship?]]>2017-07-05T17:24:00+00:00Education: Public Funding | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-04e.1024.5&p=24945#g1035.7
Given that during the general election campaign, headteachers from all over the country wrote to parents to say that per-pupil funding would be cut quite dramatically, what will my right hon....Given that during the general election campaign, headteachers from all over the country wrote to parents to say that per-pupil funding would be cut quite dramatically, what will my right hon. Friend do to make sure that parents receive the good news that there will be no reductions in per-pupil funding?]]>2017-07-04T12:37:00+00:00Tobacco Control Plan | Oral Answers to Questions - Health | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-07-04e.1014.1&p=24945#g1014.6
I welcome the Minister to his place. Does he agree that it is vital that anyone who approaches the national health service with a smoking-related disease should be pointed towards smoking...I welcome the Minister to his place. Does he agree that it is vital that anyone who approaches the national health service with a smoking-related disease should be pointed towards smoking cessation services? Does he also agree that it is vital that local authorities continue to run those services?]]>2017-07-04T00:00:00+00:00Business of the House | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-06-29b.739.0&p=24945#g753.0
May we have a debate in Government time on the disposal of local authority assets? Shortly after the election was called, it emerged that Harrow Council had sold the freehold on the Hive to...May we have a debate in Government time on the disposal of local authority assets? Shortly after the election was called, it emerged that Harrow Council had sold the freehold on the Hive to Barnet Football Club. Barnet Football Club rides roughshod over local people, and no one was consulted about the sale whatsoever. Barnet Football Club illegally plays its first team matches at the Hive. It has ignored planning rules, breaching them on several occasions, and imposes misery on all the residents around the stadium on match days, so may we have a debate in Government time on this issue?]]>2017-06-29T10:42:00+00:00Smoking | Department of Health | Written Answershttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2017-06-22.604.h&p=24945#g604.q0
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce inequalities in health outcomes caused by higher rates of smoking among lower socioeconomic groups.To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce inequalities in health outcomes caused by higher rates of smoking among lower socioeconomic groups.]]>2017-06-29T00:00:00+00:00School Funding Formula (London) | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-06-28c.702.0&p=24945#g708.1
One of the issues that the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir Vince Cable) did not raise was rising rolls, particularly in London. The birth rate and the influx of people coming to London...One of the issues that the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir Vince Cable) did not raise was rising rolls, particularly in London. The birth rate and the influx of people coming to London with young children require schools to accommodate more children, but the money lags. Will the Minister consider that aspect? If schools are not going to lose out over all, the per-pupil funding will be crucial in London to make sure that money goes to the schools as rolls rise.]]>2017-06-28T19:30:00+00:00School Funding Formula (London) | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-06-28c.702.0&p=24945#g706.2
rose&#8212;rose—]]>2017-06-28T19:16:00+00:00Tobacco | Department of Health | Written Answershttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2017-06-22.603.h&p=24945#g603.q0
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Tobacco Control Plan for England will provide sustainable funding for local tobacco control and stop-smoking services.To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Tobacco Control Plan for England will provide sustainable funding for local tobacco control and stop-smoking services.]]>2017-06-27T00:00:00+00:00Education and Local Services | Debate on the Address | Commons debateshttps://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-06-27a.477.2&p=24945#g536.1
It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh), who told a heart-rending story about housing in London. I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for...It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh), who told a heart-rending story about housing in London. I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Damien Moore). My only recollection of visiting Southport is from when I was a student, but perhaps we should gloss over that particular time.

I am delighted to have been returned as the Member for Harrow East for the third time. I thank my constituents for placing their trust in me once again, with an increased vote for the third time in a row. I have the pleasure of representing the most diverse constituency in the country, with three Hindu temples, two synagogues, an Islamic centre, a Sikh centre and a Buddhist centre across the road, and 24 churches, including the only Greek Orthodox church built in this country for more than 100 years. I can therefore claim that my constituency is a real melting pot.

Education is at the heart of that, and I am delighted that the Government saw fit to invest in increasing the number of school places across the piece in Harrow. Fifteen schools have expanded dramatically to meet that demand. We will also shortly open the first state-sponsored Hindu secondary school on a new site, which has been warmly welcomed by the diverse Hindu population across the constituency.

There has been a disgraceful campaign during which the teachers’ unions in particular have claimed—they carried on with their propaganda even after the release of our party manifesto, which increased the amount of funding pledged for education—that there will be a reduction in pupil funding of £543 per head. That is clearly a lie and it should be nailed as such.

Will the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr Jones), who is sitting on the Front Bench, confirm three particular issues? First, I ask him to confirm that we will press ahead with the local government finance scheme, which will allow local authorities to retain business rates. That is especially relevant to London, where it will become a devolved issue; Government funding will, in effect, cease and London will raise its own money for its own spending.

Secondly, will my hon. Friend confirm that we will press ahead with our plan to build 245,000 homes a year for the next five years—that figure is greater than that contained in the Labour party’s manifesto—so that a range of homes are made available for social rent, private rent and to buy?

Finally, I was delighted that my Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 was almost the last Act to receive Royal Assent before Parliament dissolved for the general election. The Act, however, requires substantial secondary legislation and the commitment of the Government to make it happen. This is truly a revolution in the way local authorities treat homeless people. It is an absolute disgrace that people are still sleeping rough on our streets.

Will my hon. Friend the Minister confirm in his wind-up speech the Government’s commitment, contained in our party’s manifesto, to ending rough sleeping once and for all over the lifetime of this Parliament? We have to do far more to build far more homes to give people the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Without proper housing, people cannot find proper employment or provide a proper base for their families. I look forward to that great achievement happening under this Conservative Government.